Control system



P. L. MARDIS AND l.. G. RILEY.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED IuLY I2, 1917.

1,371,566. y Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

UNITED STATES PAUL L. MARDIS AND LYNN G. RILEY, OF 1WILKINSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA PATENT OFFICE..

ASSIG-NORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A.CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 15, 1921.

Application led July 12, 1917. Serial No. 180,071.

To all w Imm it may concer-n.

Be it known that we, PAUL L. Marois, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Vilkinsbur in the county of Allegheny and State oft(Pennsylvania, and LYNN G. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of vWilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and'State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ControlSystems, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to systems of control and particularly to systemsof control 1 for electric railway vehicles.

One object of our invention is to provide a system of control that shallembody simple and reliable means for effecting eitherV automaticacceleration, or acceleration at will, of the motor or motors containedin the system. v

Another object of our invention is to provide a system of control oftheabove-inclicated character that shall be provided with a plurality ofmotors having a plurality of switches for governing the acceleration ofthe motors in series and in parallel-circuit relation, a main controllerhaving a plurality of contact segments for governing the operation ofthe motor switches and of the main controller itself, and a mastercontroller for selectively operating the main controller in order toautomatically accelerate the motors or to effect acceleration of themotors at will.

Another object of our invention is to provide a control system of theabove-indicated character that shall include a three-position mastercontroller for governing the 'acceleration of the motors, the systembeing provided with means for accelerating the motors at will when thecontroller is oscillated between its. first two operative positions andwith means for automatically accelerating the motors when the controlleris moved to its third operative position.

A further object of our invention is to provide a control system thatshall comprise a main controller having a set of contact segments forgoverning the operation ofY the Amotors included lin the system. a setof contact segments for governing the initial movement 'of thecont-roller between positions and a set of contact segments for gov-Verning the completion of the movementof the controller betweenpositions, whereby the motors may be accelerated at will by oscillatinga master controller between two of its operative positions.

In the control systems now in service, wherein the motors areaccelerated at will in series and in parallelcircuit relation, it 1sessential to provide a master controller having a. comparatively largenumber of operative positions and a large number of auxiliary controlcircuits.

In a control system constructedin accordance with our invention, theacceleration at will of the motors in series and in parallel relation isgoverned by two positions. of a controller, thus effecting a reductioninthe number of auxiliary control circuits.

In the accompanying drawing, VFigure 1 is a diagrammatic view of themain motor circuits of a system of control embodying our invention, Fig.2 is a chart illustrating the sequence of operation of the switchesillustrated in Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of theauxiliary control circuits for governing the operation of theY switchesillustrated in Fig. 1. Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, a pluralityof motors 1, 2, 3 and hrespectively embodying armatures 5, 6, 7 and 8kand iield windings 9, 10, 11 and 12, `are adapted to be connected acrossa'supply circuit comprising a trolley conductor 13 and a groundconductor lei and to be governed in various circuit relations by meansof switches LS, S. G, P. 15, 16, 17 and 18. A reversing switch RS isprovided for ,reversing the direction of rotation of the motors l, 2, 3and 4, and a plurality of resistors R1, R2 and R3 are provided foreifecting acceleration of the motors. An overload trip switch OT, havinga coil 19, is provided for preventing an excessive current from passingthrough the motors, and a limit switch L having a coil 20 in the mainmotor circuit is provided for governing the automatic acceleration ofthe motors, as will be described later.

Referring to Fig. 3 of the drawing, a main controller 21, which isoperated by an apparatus PK, is governed by a master controller MC andis adapted to govern the op eration of the various switches illustratedYin Fig. 1 of the drawing. A master reverser MR, embodyingY two contactsegments 22 and 23 which are adapted to engage the conaerei. Y. i

tact lingers 2e, 25 and 26, is adapted to cogizing the coils rand 7"' togovern t ie movements of the reverser switch rlhe master controller MCembodies two Contact segments 29 and 30 which are adapted to engage thecontact lingers 3l, 32, 33, 34, `35, 86. and 37, when the controller ismoved through kpositions c', Z; and c. Y

The main controller 2l embodies a set ot' contact segments 38 which areadapted to engage contact fingers 39 and llO for governing thecompletion of the movement ot' the main controller between positions, aset of Contact segments il which are adapted to engage the contactfingers 4t2, 48 and ed ior governing the initial movement of thecontroller between positions, Aand a set ot contact segments 45 whichengage contact fingers d6, 47, d8, 49, 50, l, 52 and 58 Ytor governingthe operation oit the switches illustrated in Fig. l of the drawing.Yininterloclr switch 54, which engages contact tingers 55V and 56, isprovided for completing the circuit through the coil ot the line switchLS, in position i of the control- The apparatusfPK, which operates themain controller 21, embodies a rack 54a, which engages a pinion 55amounted on the Y. controller shaft and is provided with pistons 56o and57 that respectively operate within cylinders 58 and 59. in fin-magnetvalve 60 1s provided tor governing the admission and the release otliuid pressure to and trom the cylinder 58, and an oil'- sure v65.

magnet valve 61 is provided for governing the admission and release offluid pressure- -to and from the cylinder 59. .In the operativeyposition of the magnet valve G0, 'fluid ,pressure isadmitted from asource 62 to the cylinder 58, and in the renamed position 'ot the magnetvalve, the iiuid pressure ,con Vtained within the cylinder 58 isexhausted through a port 63. lnthe operativeiposipressure containedwithin the cylinder is released through ai portee, Aand in the releasedposition ot' the magnet valve, thev cylinder 59 is connected to thesource of fluid pres- A The operation ot the apparatus PK 'toreffectinga forward movement et the' main controller 2l is accomplished by.

continuously-K- energizing the coil 66 ofthe magnet vvalve 60 andintermittently7 energizing the coil 67' of the magnet valve 6l, thusconstantlySupplying fluid pressure to the cylinder 58 andVintermittently releasing the air pressure contained within the cylin- Yder59, according to the movement ot the controller 2l that is des1red.ln case-it is desired to return the controllertolthe initial position,the coils 66 and 67 oit theitwo magnet valves ere simultaneouslydenergized,

thus rch-fusing the fluid pressure contained vithin the cylinder 58 andsupplying fluid pressure to the cylinder 59.

TwoV contact segments 70 `and ST1, which engage contact lingers 72 and73 inthe torward and in the reverse positions ot the master reverser'MR, Vare provided for comoleting a circuit through a signal lamp Et 'nvarious positions orp the main controller it switch 7 5 is provided forconnecting -he master controller MC to the trolley conduct r i3, and theoverload trip switch GT that Vis provided tor breaking. the circuithrough the coil ot' .the iine switch LS, the 'oil ot switch lr6 und thecoil 66 of thev onllows throughvthermotors. A resistor Reis i tobeconnected across the supply conductors 18 and lll by means of the mastercontroller1 MC and is provided with a plurality ot taps extendingtherefrom tor supplying a current ot reduced voltage to ai-ionsavxiliary control circuits, The line switch LS is provided withaninterlock switch Lfd-in `torV establishing alocling circuit throughtheV coil of the Vline switch, and *heswitches l) and S are respectivelyprovided -with interlock .switches Vlmp-out V- and S-out Vtor preventingthe simultaneous operation oi"- the switches l) and S. Y f

Assuming the control apparatus tobe in the position illustratedin Figs.1- and 3cr segment S29-and the resistor lill to ground-V return conducorle, A circuit is then comiieted from the tao-,TT ettendinoP from the orRe through the Contact fingers 2d it 22 ot therniaster reverser MR thatVmed to be in the Vtcuavard position, contactY segment '28,' overleedtrip switch C@ coil G6 and the coil ot the line switch LS in parallel,and Contact fingers 55and BG-which are bridged by the 'interiocl switchll-to the ground-return conductor li. A. circuit is completed troni thetap 7S loic the resistor through vcontact lingers d8 and @C9- which arebridged by the Contact segment liti-interlock'switch P-out and the coiloi the switch S to the ground-return conductor lei. A third circuit iscompleted ,from the resistor Rd, which may be traced from the. tap `79through the coil Yot the switch l5, contact lingers 52 and 75B-which.are bridged by the contact segment 45e-sig@V nal lamp Ze/r, and thecontact fingers Y2 and 73-whichare bridged by the contact seg-y mentZie-to, the `gio-rnd return conductor nt valve incase an *excessivecurrentV which are bridged by,V thecontact 14. Thus, thev switches LS, Sand 15 are closed and the coil 66 of the ori-magnet valve 60 isenergized, and a circuit is completed through the motors 1, 2, and fromthe trolley conductor through the coil 19 of the overload triprswitch,switch LS, switch 15, resistors R1, R2, R3, coil 20 of the limit switchmotors 1 and 2, in parallel, switch S and motors 3 and d, in parallel,to the ground-return conductor 1e. Y

Then themastcr controller MC is moved to position Z), a circuit iscompleted through the coil 67 of the off-magnet valre 61, from the tap77, extending from the resistor .1t-1, through the contact fingers 33and 36-which are bridged by the contact segment 30-contact fingers 42and L13--which are bridged by the contact segment t1- coil 67 and theinterlock switch LS-in to the ground-return conductor 14. Thus, themagnet valve 61 is operated and the movement of the main controllervfrom position a to position Z) is initiated. However, before position bis reached, the contact vlinger L13 is disengaged from the contactsegment d1, and the circuit previously traced through the coil 67 of theolf-magnet Valve is broken, but, simultaneously, a second circuit iscompleted by the contact segment 33 through the coil 67. This circuitextends from tap 77 of the resistor R4, the contact lingers 33 and'which are bridged by the contact segment 30-contact lingers 39 andlO-which are bridged by the contact segment 33 coil 67, and theinterlock switch LS-in to the groundreturn conductor 14. Thus, themovement of the main controller from one position to another isinitiated by the contact segments 11 and is completed by the contactsegments 38.

1n position b of the main controller 21, the contact linger 47 engagesthe contact segment 15, and the contact f nger 52 is disengagedtherefrom, whereby the switch 15 is released, and the switch 16 isoperated to exclude the resistors R1 and R2 from the circuit of themotors.

1n order to advancethe main controller 21 to position c, the mastercontroller is moved from position 5 toposition a, whereby a circuit iscompleted through the oilmagnet 67,-that may be traced from the tap 77through the contact lingers and 3:3- which are bridged by the contactsegment 30-contact fingers 12 and df-which are bridged by the contactsegment all-coil 67 and the interlock switch LS-into thegroundreturnconductor 14. Thus, the off-magnet valve is operated and the movement ofthe main controller from position t to position c is initiated. Beforeposition c is reached, the circuit of the coil 67 is broken bythedisengagement of Ithe contact finger 4-1 from the contact segment eland, simultaneously,

- a new circuit is completed by the engagement of the contact finger 40with the contact segment 38. The circuit completed by the contactseginent38 through the coil 67 may be traced from the tap 77 of the resRe through the contact ngers 33 and 3li`which are bridged by the contactsegment 30-contact lingers 39 and 40-which are bridge1 by the contactsegments 33 coil 67 and the interlock switch LS-in to the ground-returnconductor 14. When position c ot the main controller is reached, thecontact finger 41-0 is disengaged from contactwith the contact segment38 in order to break the circuit ot the coil G7 and prevent furthermovement of the main controller until the master controller MC is againoperated.

1n order to advance the main controller 21 from tie position c toposition d, the master controller MC is moved from position c toposition Z), whereby a circuit is completed through the coil of theoit-magnet valve 67 from the tap 77 of the resistor R4 through theContact fingers 33 and 36- which are bridged by the contact segmentSO-contact ngcrs L t2 and 13--which are bridged by the contact segment41-coil 67 and thc interlock switch LS-in, to the ground-returnconductor la. Thus, the movement of the main controller from position cto position (Z is initiated and is completed by a circuit which isclosed through the coil 67 by the engagement of the contact finger 10with the contact segment 38, in a` manner similar to that disclosed indescribing the movement of the controller troni position a. to position7) and from position o to position c.

1n position Z ot the main controller, the switch 17 is released byreason of the disengagement ot the contact finger 51 from the contactsegment 15, and the switch 18 is operated by reason of the engagement ofthe contact finger 46 with the contact segment Thus, the switches 16 and18 are simultaneously operated, and the resistors L12 and R3 are placedin the motor circuit in parallel.

The movement of the main controller 21 `from position Z to position c,position c to position position f to position g, position g to positionlr. and position 7L to position c' is accomplished in a manner similarto that disclosed in describing the movement of the controller fromposition o to position and from position 5 to position c, and a furtherdescription thereof is deemed unnecessary.

1n position e ot the main controller, the switches 15, 16 and 17 aresimultaneously operated to exclude the resistors R1, R2 and 1?;3 fromthe circuits of the motors 1, 2, 3 and et.

Between positions c and y, the transition ot' the motors from series toparallel-circuit relation is accomplished by means of the well-knownshunting transition, and, in positions g, h and c'v of the maincontroller 2l, the motors are accelerated in parallelcircuit relation.The circuit of the signal lamp 74 is broken in positions e and z' byreason ofthe dis-engagement of the contact linger 53 from the contactsegment 45 and thus, an indication is always given by the lamp 7d whenthe ymotors are in a running positiornnamely, in full-series or infullparallel position.

ln case automatic acceleration of the motors 1, 2, 8 and 4E is desired,the master controller MC is moved to position c, whereby the initiationof the movement of the main controller 21-from one position to anotheris controlled solely by the limit switch L, which in turn, is` governedby the current flowing through the motors.V Y

Yin position c of the masterV controller, a circuit is` completedthrough the coil 67 of the magnet valve that may be traced from tap 77of the resistor R11 through contact lingers 33 and'37-which are bridgedby the contact segment -limit switch L,`coil 67 and interlock switchLS-in to the groundreturn conductor 14. Thus, the magnet valve 61 isoperated and the movement o the controller 21 from position a isinitiated. lf the limit switch L is operated before the Y controller 2lis moved to position b it will be noted that a circuit for the coil 67of the off-magnet valve is completed through the contact segment 38 andthe contact finger l0 to'insure the movement of the controller 21 to thenext position. The circuit completed by the contact segment 38 throughthe coil 67 may be traced from the resistor tap 77 through the contactfingers 33 and 34E-which are bridged by the contact segment 30-'contactfingers 39 and LLO--which are bridged by the contact segment 38-coil 67and the interlock switch LS-in to the ground-return conductor 14.

Whenthe main controller is moved to p0- sition Z), the circuit of thecoil 67 for the ofi'- magnet valve is broken by reason ofthe'disengagement of contact linger d0 from the Y Contact segmentS.Further movement of the controller 21 is prevented until the currentflowing through themotors 1 to Li, inclusive, is 'reduced to a pointsuliicient to allow the release of the limit switch L and in order topermit the completion therethrough or a circuit 'for energizing the coil67. ln a similar manner, the main controller is advanced to position z'in order to operate the motors in full-parallel relation, and furtherdescription thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Modifications in the system-and arrangement'and location of parts may bemade within the spirit` and scope of our invention and suchmodifications are intended tobe covered by the appended claims.

tion of the motors when the lmaster con-V Y troller is moved to itsthird operative posi-V tion.

2. in a system of control, the combination with a motor and athree-position controller, of means for effecting acceleration of themotor at will when the controller is oscillated between the first two'of its positions and for effecting automatic acceleration of the motorwhen the controller is moved to its third opcrative position.

3. In a system of control, the combination with a plurality of motors,and a plurality of switches for governing the operation of the motors,of'a three-position master controller, and means comprising a maincontroller associated with the master controller for effectingaccelerationat will of the motors in series and in parallel-circuitrelation when the master controller is oscillated between its first twooperative'positions and for effecting automatic acceleration of' themotors in series and in parallel-circuit relation when the mastercontroller is moved to its third operative position.

s. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit and a.plurality of motors connected across the supply circuit, of athree-position controller and means associatedwith the controller foraccelerating the motors at will in series and inparallelcircuit relationwhen the controller is oscillated between two of its positions andforeffecting automatic acceleration of the motors in series and inparallel-circuit relation when the controller is moved to its thirdoperative position.

5. In a system of control, the combination with a plurality of motorsand a plurality of switches for governing the acceleration of the motorsin series and in parallel-circuit relation. of a controllerhaving threeoperative positions, means associated with the first two positions ofthe controller for governing' said switches to accelerate the motors atwill through a plurality of series and parallel steps and meansassociated with the third position of the controller for governing saidswitches to eiect automatic acceleration of the motors.

6. In a system of control, the combination with a plurality of motorsand a plurality of switches for governing'the operation of the motors.of a controller having three op- Y erative positions and means foraccelerating cillated between its first two operative positions and foreffecting automatic acceleration of the motors/when the controller ismoved to its third operative position.

7. In a system of control, the combination with a supply circuit, aplurality of motors, and a plurality of switches for connecting themotors across the supply circuit and for governing the operationthereof, of a three-position master controller, and means comprising amain controller associated with the master controller for controllingthe operation of said switches at will to effect acceleration of themotors in series and in parallel-circuit relation when the mastercontroller is oscillated between two operative positions and forcontrolling the operation of the switches to effect automaticacceleration of the motors in series and in parallel-circuit relationwhen the master controller is moved to its third operative position.

S. In a system of control for an electric motor, the combination with amain controller having a plurality of contact segments for governing theoperation of the motor, of a pneumatic device governed by said contactsegments for operating said controller, and means for selectivelyenergizing the contact segments to operate said device and effectautomatic acceleration, or acceleration at will, of the motor.

9. In a system of control for an electric motor, the combination with amain controller for governing the operation of the motor, saidcontroller being provided with sets of contact segments Jfor governingtheinitiation and the completion of the movement between positions ofthe controller, of a pneumatic d vice controlled by said contactsegments for operating the controller and means for selectivelyenergizing said contact segments to operate the controller at will.

10. In a system of control, the combination with a plurality of motors,a plurality of switches for governing the acceleration of the motors inseries and in parallel-circuit relation, and a main controller forgoverning the operation of said switches and provided with contactsegments forV governing the initiation and the completion of themovement between positions of the controller', of a pneumatic devicecontrolled by said contact segments for eecting movement of thecontroller, and means for selectively energizing the various contactsegments at will to accelerate the motors ni series and inparallel-circuit relation.

11. In a system of control for an electric motor, the combination with amain controller having a set of contact segments for governing theoperation of the motor, and two sets of' contact segments for governingthe initiation and the completion of the movement of the main controllerbetween positions, ol' a fluid motor selectively operated by saidcontact segments for operating the main controller and means forselectively energizing the main controller contact segments.

12. In a system of control for an electric motor, the combination with amain controller having a set of contact segments for governing theoperation of the motor, a set of contact segments for governing theinitial movement ot` the main controller between positions, and a thirdset of contact segments for governing the completion of the movement ofthe main controller between positions, of a fluid motor selectivelyoperated by said contact segments for ef'- fecting movement of the maincontroller, and a master controller for selectively enenergizing thevarious segments of the main controller.

13. In a systemof control for an electric motor, the combination with acontroller having a plurality of contact segments for governing theoperation of the motor, of means governed by said Contact segments foroperating said controller, and means for selectively energizing thecontact segments to render said operating means active and effectautomatic acceleration, or acceleration at will, of the motor.

14. In a system of control for an electric motor, the combination with acontroller for governing' the operation of the motor, said controllerbeing provided with sets of contact segments for governing theinitiation and the completion of the movement between positions of thecontroller, of means controlled by said contact segments for operatingthe controller and means for selectively energizing said contactsegments.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 27thday of June, 1917.

PAUL L. MARDIS. LYNN G. RILEY.

